LOWELL, Mass. — Bruins forward Nathan Horton feels fully recovered from the concussion he suffered in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in June.

He says that although he hasn’t skated this summer, he’s been working out hard and not feeling any symptoms that were the result of head injury inflicted by a high hit from Vancouver defenseman Aaron Rome, who was in turn suspended for the rest of the series by the NHL.

Horton was on hand to play in Milan Lucic’s charity softball game tonight at LeLacheur Park. When asked if he’d heard from Rome since the incident, Horton confirmed he had. But he also didn’t sound all that forgiving of the blueliner, and kind of set up a decent grudge match for the Jan. 7 Bruins-Canucks showdown.

“Just through a text message I heard [from him], but I mean, I wouldn’t be throwing a text message someone’s way, you know?” Horton said. “I’d have a little more respect to try to make a phone call.”

Well, if Rome is still in the NHL by midseason, there won’t be a need for a text or a call because Horton and Rome will get a chance to line up opposite one another for the first time since the hit. Don’t be surprised if Horton pretends Rome is Dion Phaneuf and goes after the Canucks backliner.

[…] an uninterested person who didn’t like the first date and hasn’t called back since. But in an interview with The Bruins Blog, Horts (who confirmed that he’s concussion symptom-free, sweet!) thinks it’s pretty […]

Steamer,
For the hit on Raymond, I think it was a very unclear and odd situation that followed normal playoff protocol (unlike the Rome hit). When boychuck started the hit, Raymond still had the puck. 5 seconds later, when he finished the hit, the puck was long gone to be sure. What is weird is that the hit was so slow and once engaged I find it hard to say that there were apparent better options because disengaging meant tripping himself/possibly slashing someone. This then brings up an interesting rules issue: is it interference if you “line up” to hit and essentially engage the sequence but the hit finishes well after the puck leave. Given that most hits occur just after a player passes or shoots the puck because that player can’t disengage, these hit are not generally considered interference. Boychuck’s hit really takes it to the extreme, where I can understand where a ref would call it, or wouldn’t call it either way. I think if it was called it would be for 2 minutes and no suspension because there was no attempt to injure (Trust me, Boychuck can hit WAAAAAY harder than Raymond felt, just ask Kaleta whose collarbone he broke on a clean, open ice hit while kaleta had his head down.)

For whether or not the apology is important, I think in terms of the game it is surely moot.

I do think that paying attention to the way a person apologizes can tell you a lot about their sincerity, or personality, and certain kinds are more sincere than others I would think, so I think Horton is absolutely right in that Rome wasn’t particularly sincere or respectful in his apology. If someone apologized to me via text about sending me to the hospital, I wouldn’t have forgiven them either. That’s still Horton’s personal right. However, telling the media about it (I’m sure they asked) is pretty stupid too.

Two things to set you straight… The hit was late we admit that. Apology was given by the NHL by a 4 game suspension which was fair/unfair which ever side you are one. As for the apology, he sent one via text which may or may not be the right way to do it but nevertheless it is an apology. You don’t criticize how somebody apologizes when they do it. You accept it and move on. Rome paid his dues and missed the SCF as Horton did so it was an eye for eye suspension. He will talk personally with Horton on Jan 7th don’t worry.

As for the Boychuk hit, whether he apologized or not is moot . Vancouver fans aren’t asking for that. What they scratch their head about is… Isn’t that interference? I think the refs missed it. I know they did because the puck was the other side of the ice

If you honestly think that is not interference then you can’t see the light through your black and gold glasses.

I don’t know the traffic laws in Canada, but in the U.S. if you are driving a car and you hit someone (jaywalk or no) it’s YOUR fault. Same here, you injure someone the onus is on your player. Timmy are you 16?!?! No respectable adult apologizes via text or twitter or that bullcrap. Adults talk to each other, they don’t continue to whine about how they weren’t wrong when the rest of the country/league sees and says that they were wrong. It isn’t how people view boston that’s really in question. It’s how people view Vancouver and their now infamous team of biters and divers.

Also, I haven’t heard anything about Boyuchuck apologizing, but I suspect he did. Remember as well, that he wasn’t convicted like Rome was. He didn’t even get a penalty from the league’s best officials for that hit. The hit was awkward, but didn’t really look like it was even hard. It looked like Boychuck ended up in a bad position after he initiated the check, and the best option he (and I saw) was to just slow down the hit so Raymond could prepare for it. It looked really like a freak accident and I do feel bad for Raymond, but the officials got it right. And you bet your ass they reviewed the play to see if there should be a suspension.

So will Boychuk apologize to Mason for his interference that was not called..Guy has a broken back FFS, Give it a rest Horton, your team …without you awakened after that hit. It was a seriesChanger as they say. See you on the 7th and we will see who cries after that.

Wow, you talk about respect then go all over him to the media for “only” texting you? How about showing a little yourself? I’m surprised his shirt didn’t read” I went to the Stanley cup and only got this silver cup!”

I would like to apologize for the fact that I caught you admiring your pass during Game 3 in the Stanley Cup Final. Although I was a few tenths of a second late in my shoulder check, I should have let you continue admiring your pass unmolested, instead of letting my momentum cause you to land flat on your butt.

BREAKING NEWS: Horton would like an apology. ALSO: Still no word if he heard a who.

What a little *itch, the hit was fractions of a second late and Horton had his head down. Rome apologized, that’s a hell of a lot more than he would’ve gotten from me (and probably Horton if the shoe was on the other foot).

Boston blasted Montreal for calling Pacioretty’s concussion severe, yet he missed the rest of the season and Playoffs.

They called the Horton Concussion severe, but he was partying on the ice in Game 7 like it was 1999.

It’d have been clean if it wasn’t late. The fact that it was late was why it was a penalty/suspension. It’s pretty damn similar to what Chara did to max, but at least Chara had the decency to call and apologize

Timmy,
If you knocked a player out like that would you only apologize with a text? Everybody but Cooke who has delivered a big hit that knocked a player out like that to a bruin or by a bruin has done that courtesy of giving a call at the least to try and apologize or explain themselves. Rome should probably be sour at the league for the (too long) suspension, but he still should recognize why his hit was dangerous and act as a man might.